Locker



Feb. 3, 1931.

E. D. KAsx-:R 1,791,134

LOCKER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l, 1927 a JJ I l' i www f E. D. KASERFeb. 3, 1931.

LOGKER Filed Aug. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 72u61@ 7 $67627? ee fiese??E. D. KAsER 1,791,134

' LOCKER Filed Aug. 1. 1927 :s sheets-sheet s Feb. 3, 1931.

w li .l l v o o y Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNrrsD STATES PATENT OFFICEEVERETT D. KASER, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DURABILT STEEL LOCKERCO., OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATON OF LLINOIS LOCKER Application ledAugust 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,975.

This invention relates to improvements in lockers, more especially tocombination hat and coat lockers and the like wherein interlocking meansare provided so that by locking 5 one door, both doors are locked.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide a simple andpractical form of interlock mechanism, whereb two separate locker doorscan be controlle by a single manufactured and assembled into the lockerat a low cost; to provide a substantially unitary interlocking member inwhich joints and composite structures are avoided, and which can be madein such a simple manner as by merely bending a rod into the requiredshape; to provide an interlock member which is well concealed, occupiesa very small space, and does not obstruct vthe locker compartments; toprovide an interlock in which the force from the controlling door iscommunicated directly through a single member to the other door; and toprovide an interlock which` is positive and reliable in operation.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanyingdraw- F ig. 5 `is a detailed section of the latch for the lower door andis taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modied form oflatching mechamsm.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lin'e7-7 of Fig. 6. n

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

lock; to provide such a device which can beA Fig. 9 is a View showingsubstantially the parts shown in Fig. 4 inv perspective, looking outwardfrom the interior of the locker.

In the devices shown, a rod bent in the form of a bell crank isrotatably mounted on the locker wall adjacent the edges of the doors.One end of the rod is bent transversely to its axis to form a cam orcrank arm which projects into the path of the edge of the controllingdoor and the other end or' the rod is bentvto form a crank arm or lingerwhich projects into engaging relation with the latch mechanism of thecompanion door. The rod is rotated in one direction by means or a springagainst a stop, so that the controlling door, in closing, strikesagainst the crank arm on the one end and rotates the interlock rod sothat the finger on the vopposite end is rotated into position to preventthe latch of the companion door from being operated to open the door.

Tn the form of locker shown in the drawings, the upper portion of thelockerv 10 is divided into two horizontal hat compartments havingdoorsll and 12 arranged one above the other, and the `lower portion isdivided by a vertical partition 13 into two vertical coat compartmentshaving doors 14 and 15. The doors 14 and 15 are each hinged to themiddle partition wall 13 of the locker, and the upper doors lland 12 arepreferably hinged respectively to the opposite sides of the locker. Theupper door 11 which swings tothe right controls the doorV 14 of thecompanion compartment at the left side of the locker, and the door 12which swings tothe left, controls the door 15 at the right side.

The controlling doors 11 and 12 oi' the hat compartments are eachprovided with key operated locks, adjacent the swinging edges, whichengage with the adjoining portion of the locker wall for holding thedoor closed; and the doors of the coat compartments are provided Withtubular portions 16, in the swinging edges, in which are slidablymounted vertical latch bars 17.

The bars 17 are normally in a lowered position and may be raised bymeans of handles 18, which project through slots in the front Walls ofthe respective doors, and

the length orn the slots determine and limit the up or down movement ofthe latch bars.

ln closing the coat compartment doors, the latch bars 1? are raised andthen dropped down to engage in the hooks in the keepers 19 which areriveted to the frame of the locker and are bent around so as to enterslots in the rear portion or" the tubes 16 wherein the keepers engage insuitably termed slots in the latch bars 17, as shown in Fig. 5. Forcontrolling one door by another, the inter lock rod members 2() and 21are rotatably mounted on the brackets 22 which are riveted to the anglesectioned edge frame member 23 of the locker and are positioned one oneach side oi the locker. rEhe upper ends of each of the rods 20 and 21are bent over and termed into a Jell crank cam` 2a which lies in a planeat right angles to the rotational axis of the rod. fr portion 25 of thebrackets 22 may be extended to overlie the cam portion ot thecorresponding interlock rod to term a stop against which the cam strikesto limit the rotational movement et the rod under the action of theretracting spring 26 which is anchored in the bracket. rlhe springs 26are passed through the eyes of the brackets 22 alongside the rods, andhook over the edges of the brackets at one end. The other ends ofsprings are hooked over the laterally extending linger'portions 27 whichare formed at the lower ends ot each oit the rods. The spring rotatesthe rod and swings the cam 24 into the path ot the edge of the controldoor, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the stop 25 preventing thef rod from :further rotation. When the hat compartment door is beingclosed, the edge ot' the door strikes the cam and rotates the rod intothe locking position which is shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

ln Fig. 2 the cams are shown as being in cooperative relation with theswinging edges of the corresponding doors, while in the arrangementshown in lig. 6 the cams 28 of the interlock rods 29 and BO are operatedupon by the hinged edges orP the doors. rlhe cams 28, on the upper endsof the rods 29 and 30, are somewhat more angular than the cams 24e onthe rods 20 and 21 to adapt them tor contacting with the hinged edge ofthe door instead of the swinging edge. Also a different lio-rm ot'stopping means which may be used is shown. rlhe end oi the cam portion28 is extended so that it strikes against the wall or' the locker, whichin this particular instance is the inner surface of the angle member 23.ln othe1 respects the interlock members are substantially alike exceptthat greater lengths are required where the members span one hatcompartment door to cooperate with the door above.

At' the lower ends, the rods are bent to form the lingers 2"? which hookthrought apertures 31 formed in the rear portion ot the tubular edges 16of the respective coat compartment doors, so as to overle the upper endsoic the latch bars 17 when the doors are closed. rllhis prevents liftingthe bar 17 to unlock the lower door until the corresponding control dooris open.

ln using the locker, the hat compartment door is first unlocked with akey. When the door is opened, the interlock rod is released and isrotated counter-clockwise as shown in the plan sections, Fig. 3 and Fig.7, into the positions indicated in broken out lines. rllhe linger 2'? isthereby withdrawn "from the aperture 3l so that the latch bar 17 may belifted to disengage from the keepers 19 so that the coat compartmentdoor may be opened.

ln closing the locker, either door may be closed first, and the hatcompartment door may be closed and locked bei'ore the corresponding coatcompartment door is closed, but when the latter door is then closed andlatched, it cannot be opened until the hat compartment door is open. lfthe hat compartment door is closed lirst,'the interlock member isrotated into engaging relation with the upper end of the latch bar, andthe bar will strike against the linger when it is raised to pass overthe ends oit the keepers in closing the door. But the upper end of thelatch bar is made somewhat flexible so that it can yield sufficiently toallow the door to be pressed shut, and will then spring under the linger2T when the bar is shoved down to latch the door.

Gbviously, a very simple lorm of interlock is provided. rlhe interlockmember is made entirely or" one piece which can be manufactured, bysimple bending operations. lts operation is positive; the constnfuctionis simple and rugged; the interlock occupies very little space in thelocker and is easily installed.

Although but two illustrative e-mbodiments of this invention have beenherein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous detailsof the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departingfrom the siprit or' this inventionl as delined by the following claims.

l claim:

1. ln a locker having doors having latches, an interlock rod mounted forlimited rotation in the locker wall, the rod being bent into an arcuatelaterally projecting portion, and resilient means for rotating the rodto one limit so that the arcuate portion projects into the path of theedge ot one door whereby the rod is rotated when the door is closed, therod also having a bent portion which is adapted to engage with the latchof another door.

2. ln combination in a locker, a door having a lock, and a second doorhaving a slidable latch bar, a bell crank rod rotatably mounted in thelocker having one `crank arm engageable by the first door and rotatablethereby so that the second crank arm is in engaging relation with thelatch bar of the second door.

3. The combination in a locker, a door having a lock, and a second doorhaving a movable latch, a bell crank interlock member rotatablymountedvin the locker, a spring for rotating the bell crank to swing onearm into contacting relation with the first door so that when the firstdoor is closed the bell crank is thereby rotated against the pressure ofthe spring to move the second arm into position to prevent the latch ofthe second door from being moved to unlock the door.

4. A locker having two compartments with separate doors, a lock for oneof said doors, a latch for the other door, and interlock mechanismcomprising a bell crank ac` tuated by said one door for preventing theunlatching of the other door, whereby the locking of one door willsecure both.

5. A locker having two compartments with separate doors, a lock for oneof said doors, a latch for the other door, and interlock mechanismcomprising a bell crank comprising a rod extending` between and adjacentsaid doors and having transverse crank arms at its ends, one of saidarms being p0- sitioned to be actuated by said one door and other armbeing positioned to move into and out of position to prevent theoperation of said latch.

Signed at Aurora this 25th day of July,

EVERETT D. KASER.

